Evaluation of easiness/difficulty of operating the manual wheelchair on longitudinal slopes

Abstract

Using the specially designed experimental manual wheelchair, influences of longitudinal slopes on maneuvering the wheelchair were investigated, and some results were obtained. It became clear that normalized load/distance rate is useful for evaluating easiness/difficulty in maneuvering the manual wheelchair comprehensively regardless of total weight of wheelchair and rider. And, the indicator for estimating easiness/difficulty in operating the manual wheelchair on a longitudinal slope based on rider' s driving force was constructed and verified to be effective.